National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017

Floor Speech

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Mr. ZINKE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of my colleague from Florida's amendment to create a Judge Advocate General career litigation track in the Army and the U.S. Air Force.

The legislation provides the Army and Air Force JAG officers with trial and prosecutorial experience that is absolutely critical.

Currently, Army and Air Force JAGs lack experience, as multiple reports have said. As a matter of fact, a shocking 89 percent of military prosecutors only have 10 or fewer contested cases. This inexperience is a disservice to those who seek justice under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Anyone who has suffered a transgression and sexual assault or other crime while serving in the military, quite frankly, deserves the best.

The Navy has implemented this litigation path and is already reaping great results. It is time for the Air Force and the Army to follow suit.

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Mr. ZINKE. Mr. Chair, I offer amendment No. 10 as the designee of Mrs. Lummis from the great State of Wyoming.

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Mr. ZINKE. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of this amendment to highlight the importance of maintaining our nuclear deterrence. This amendment will ensure that our land-based nuclear ICBMs are ready at a moment's notice and are not placed on a reduced-alert status.

President Reagan had it right. He championed the notion of peace through strength. Those wise words still apply today, even greater. The harsh reality is that we live in an increasingly unstable international environment. Nuclear deterrence provided by the triad has been the backbone of our national security posture for over half a century. Just last fall, the Secretary of Defense stated: ``The nuclear deterrent is a must-have . . . It is the foundation. It's the bedrock and it needs to remain healthy . . . ''

Montana is a proud defender of our triad, and our troops are always ready. Our ICBMs should be, too.

As more nation-states, including Iran, begin to defy international laws and pursue nuclear and ballistic missiles, it is critical that we do not scale back our nuclear deterrence.

I urge all of my colleagues to support this amendment.

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Mr. ZINKE. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from the great State of North Dakota (Mr. Cramer).

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Mr. ZINKE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from the great State of Alabama (Mr. Rogers).

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Mr. ZINKE. Mr. Chair, this amendment is about ensuring that our nuclear deterrence that has protected this country for over 70 years remains strong and viable.

Yesterday, this body passed a measure to keep our nukes safe. It is now time to ensure they are ready at a moment's notice. There is no reason to have a nuclear force unless they are ready.

To lower the alert posture of our land-based ICBMs would result in a 2-week delay before our ICBMs would be ready to use. This would cripple our ability to respond quickly, which is the entire point of having a nuclear triad.

In the military, we always hope for the best but plan for the worse. While I hope we never have to use our nuclear weapons--and, indeed, I believe everyone in this body does--to lower their posture status of land-based ICBMs would unnecessarily put us at risk.

I encourage all my colleagues to support this amendment.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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